€50m Tullamore shopping centre gets green light

A new €50 million shopping centre in Tullamore could be open by Christmas 2011 on the old Texas site in the town, the Offaly Independent can reveal. The anchor store will be the hugely popular high street retail store 'Penneys' the first branch to open in Offaly, and there will be around 40 retail units in total. The group behind the scheme, Inverine Plc, has welcomed the decision by An Bord Pleanála, 18 months after it originally lodged the application with Tullamore Town Council, which was granted. "I'm not hugely surprised (it's been granted) because the scheme complied with the county development plan and the zoning in the town. I always felt it was suitable," director of Inverine Plc Eamon Duignan said. He confirmed that Penneys will be the anchor store of the shopping centre. "That's the reason we bought the site in the first place," he added. Mr Duignan said he had yet to look over An Bord Pleanála's decision, so it was now a case of seeing what the next step was, however the recession is not putting the company off its investment. While still expecting to open the centre by Christmas 2011, he said at the latest, it will be Easter 2012. "The economic climate is what it is, I'd be quite happy to start the scheme in the morning, but the issue is the availability of bank finance," he said. "By the time the scheme is open, I'd hope that the world is back on its feet." Costing in the region of €50 million to build, Mr Duignan said the development will have huge spin-off to the local economy from construction to its opening, and that between 500 to 800 people could be employed at its peak. Plans for the centre mostly revolve around the 'Texas' site of which the three warehouses, the 'The Wolftrap' pub, one storage shed, an existing water tank and one existing oil tank will be demolished. The two-storey shopping centre will have two basement car park levels to hold 704 cars. There will be three anchor stores, 37 retail units, four kiosks, an enclosed mall, toilets and other services. A new public park and civic plaza will be provided at Kilbride Park, a new civic space at Offaly Street/Columcille Street, a change of use of number 16 Columcille Street and the widening of Offaly Street at its junction with Columcille Street. Director of Inverine Eamon Duignan told the Offaly Independent yesterday that he was delighted that the development could now move to the next stage. An Bord Pleanála decided grant permission earlier this week. "In deciding not to accept the Inspector's recommendation to refuse permission, the Board considered that having regard to the changes made to the proposal during the course of the appeal, the proposed development would not seriously injure the visual amenities of the area nor adversely impact on protected structures or the architectural heritage of Tullamore," wrote the board in conclusion. There are 20 conditions attached, including stipulations that Inverine make contributions to the town council of €80,000 towards a traffic light system and €200,000 on a pedestrian bridge. There will also be landscaping, public lighting and a play area included. The development will also be carried out in compliance with the revised drawings received by the Board in August. There will also be some planning amendments, which will be submitted to the planning authority to be agreed in writing, prior to commencement of development, to reduce the impact of the proposed development on the protected structure, to increase permeability through the site and enhance the public realm. The hard landscaping area immediately west of the proposed development shall incorporate specifically delineated footpaths in the direction of Bury Quay, the Tullamore Dew Heritage and the Offaly Historical and Archaeological Society buildings and guiding signage to these buildings shall be erected at a location to be agreed with the planning authority in writing prior to the commencement of development at this location. The fear that roosting bats will be disturbed in the tower was also addressed as a bat specialist will supervise the tree-felling and be on-site during demolition. Bat roosts will be provided on new buildings. Third party appeals were made by the Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society and Rumbold Builders while two were withdrawn. A total of 17 letters of observation were recieved regarding the development. The OHAS appealed on the basis of the removal of parking from Kilbride Town Park, no guarantee that parking will be open for 16 hours per day, the society members would have nowhere to park, and fears over the development's negative effect on the Heritage Centre and OHAS. Rumbold Builders appealed on the grounds of design, overdevelopment and the impact on setting of protected structures and, in particular, the TDHC.